Mary Mercier was a Welsh-born actress and playwright whose career spanned Broadway, television, and film. Although best known as Gene Wilder’s first wife, she had an independent career that included writing the Broadway drama Johnny No-Trump and appearing in the comedies Airplane! and Airplane II: The Sequel. Her professional life extended well beyond her marriage to the celebrated actor.
Quick Bio of Mercia Elizabeth H. Hawkins
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mercia Elizabeth H. Hawkins (reported by IMDb) |
| Known As | Mary Mercier |
| Date of Birth | July 7, 1928 (reported) |
| Birthplace | Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | Welsh-born; later identified as an American citizen |
| Profession | Actress and playwright |
| Education | Not publicly confirmed |
| Famous Ex-Husband | Gene Wilder (married July 22, 1960; divorced 1965) |
| Children | Not publicly confirmed |
| Known For | Gene Wilder’s first wife, Broadway performances, and film appearances |
| Notable Works | Johnny No-Trump (1967), Airplane! (1980), Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), Mistress (1992), Unstrung Heroes (1995) |
| Date of Death | August 24, 2014 (reported by IMDb; independently unconfirmed) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Early Life and Background
IMDb identifies Mercier’s birth name as Mercia Elizabeth H. Hawkins and reports that she was born on July 7, 1928, in Cardiff, Wales. These details have not all been independently confirmed through civil records. In an interview preserved by the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, she was described as having lived in England, Sweden, Finland, France, Belgium, and Canada before settling in the United States.
That interview also identified her as an American citizen, although the date of her naturalization is unknown. Mercier recalled taking part in amateur theater as a teenager and gaining experience in repertory theater, radio, and television. Reliable documentation of her schooling and formal qualifications is unavailable.
Some biographical accounts associate her early New York years with HB Studio, which was also connected to Gene Wilder’s acting education. However, the extent of her training there remains unclear.
Mary Mercier’s Theater Career
Acting on New York Stages
Mercier played Pearl Bryant in Arnold Wesker’s Roots, which opened at New York’s Mayfair Theatre on March 6, 1961. Gene Wilder, then her husband, played Frankie Bryant. The production was part of Wilder’s early Off-Broadway career, before his major Hollywood success.
She appeared as a meter maid in The Fun Couple, which opened at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre on October 26, 1962, and closed the following day. The cast included Jane Fonda and Dyan Cannon.
In 1963, Mercier played Mathilde and understudied Prudence in Franco Zeffirelli’s The Lady of the Camellias, staged at the Winter Garden Theatre from March 20 to March 30. The production earned three Tony Award nominations, although none was an individual nomination for Mercier.
Writing Johnny No-Trump
Mercier’s most substantial documented work as a playwright was Johnny No-Trump: A Play in Two Acts. Directed by Joseph Hardy, it opened at Broadway’s Cort Theatre on October 8, 1967. The cast included Pat Hingle, Sada Thompson, James Broderick, Don Scardino, and Bernadette Peters. Despite five previews, the production closed after a single regular performance.
Set within a Long Island family, the drama follows a teenager who wants to leave school and become a poet. It examines artistic ambition, misunderstandings, and the pressures families can place on young people. Contemporary reviews were mixed: The New Yorker criticized aspects of the writing while praising the acting, whereas the theatrical publisher preserves more favorable responses.
The play had a life beyond Broadway. Bob Sickinger directed a 1969 production at Chicago’s Hull House Theaters, showing that the work continued to attract theatrical interest after its brief New York engagement.
Mercier discussed how family relationships could frustrate a young person’s creative ambitions in an episode of Seminars in Theatre. She also addressed the original production’s disappointing reception. The recording survives in the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, although its unverified transcript should not be used for exact quotations.
Marriage to Gene Wilder
Their Relationship and Wedding
Mary Mercier and Gene Wilder married on July 22, 1960, while both pursued acting careers in New York. Some biographies suggest they met through HB Studio, though the precise circumstances remain unconfirmed. Their shared appearance in Roots establishes that they also worked together professionally.
The couple divorced in 1965, before Wilder became widely known for The Producers, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and Young Frankenstein.
Available public evidence does not establish a definitive reason for the separation. Accounts that assign blame or describe a specific dispute should therefore be treated cautiously.
Did Mary Mercier Have Children?
No reliable public information confirms whether Mercier had biological or adopted children. Wilder subsequently married Mary Joan Schutz in 1967 and adopted her daughter, Katharine Wilder. Katharine was not Mercier’s daughter.
Wilder later married actress Gilda Radner in 1984 and Karen Boyer in 1991. Mercier’s relationships following her divorce from Wilder are not reliably documented, and few verified details about her subsequent private life are available.
Mary Mercier’s Movies and Television Roles
Early Film and Television Appearances
Mercier appeared in The Three Sisters (1966), Paul Bogart’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s play. She was credited as a maid and a carnival character alongside Geraldine Page, Sandy Dennis, Kim Stanley, and Shelley Winters.
During the 1970s, she appeared in two episodes of Starsky & Hutch, playing a nurse and a secretary. These supporting television roles added to a career she had already established through stage performances.
Mary Mercier in Airplane!
One of her most recognizable movie appearances was as Shirley in Airplane! (1980), the aviation comedy directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. The film became widely known for its absurd humor and parody of disaster movies.
Mercier returned in 1982 for Airplane II: The Sequel, this time credited as Edith Walters rather than Shirley. The American Film Institute records her participation in both productions.
Although both were supporting performances, the films brought her work to audiences beyond the theater.
Later Screen Credits
Also in 1982, Mercier played Mary de Fleurville in Richard Moyer’s Rimbaud in L.A.. She appeared as Shelby’s waitress in Barry Primus’s Mistress (1992), which featured Robert De Niro, Martin Landau, and Danny Aiello.
Her later credits include a waitress role in Diane Keaton’s Unstrung Heroes (1995). These appearances, alongside her earlier theater work, reflect a professional career built around varied character roles rather than leading-star publicity.
Later Years, Death, and Public Image
What Happened to Mary Mercier?
Following her documented film appearances in the 1990s, Mercier received relatively little attention from mainstream entertainment media. That absence of coverage does not establish when she stopped working or whether she continued pursuing creative projects privately.
Her play remains listed in theatrical publishing records, while historical archives preserve production materials and her recorded interview. Together, these sources provide much of the available evidence of her professional contributions.
Mary Mercier’s Death and Reported Age
According to IMDb, Mercier died in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2014, at age 86. However, the research supporting this biography did not establish an independent official death record or authoritative obituary.
Her cause of death also remains unconfirmed. Claims linking her death to a particular illness or accident are not supported by reliable evidence.
No credible financial disclosures establish Mercier’s net worth, income, or property holdings. Figures published without supporting records should be regarded as unofficial estimates rather than verified financial information.
As of October 2026, no significant new developments concerning her personal life or professional work have been independently verified.
Mary Mercier’s Legacy in American Entertainment
Mercier’s marriage to Gene Wilder brought her lasting recognition, but her career also deserves attention in its own right. She performed alongside established actors, worked in Broadway productions, appeared in recognizable films, and brought an original drama to the New York stage.
Her experience with Johnny No-Trump also reflects an interest in the demands of dramatic writing. Despite its brief original Broadway run, the play attracted further attention and remains part of the historical theatrical record.
Unlike Wilder, who became an internationally recognized movie star, Mercier maintained a comparatively modest public profile. Her surviving credits nevertheless document decades of involvement in entertainment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mary Mercier?
Mary Mercier was a Welsh-born actress and playwright best known as Gene Wilder’s first wife. She appeared in Airplane! (1980) and wrote the Broadway play Johnny No-Trump (1967).
When did Mary Mercier and Gene Wilder get married?
Mary Mercier and Gene Wilder married on July 22, 1960, and divorced in 1965 after approximately five years of marriage.
What movies did Mary Mercier appear in?
Mary Mercier appeared in The Three Sisters (1966), Airplane! (1980), Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), Mistress (1992), and Unstrung Heroes (1995).
Did Mary Mercier and Gene Wilder have children?
There is no reliable public evidence that Mary Mercier and Gene Wilder had children together. Wilder later adopted Katharine, the daughter of his second wife, Mary Joan Schutz.
When did Mary Mercier die, and what was her cause of death?
IMDb reports that Mary Mercier died on August 24, 2014, at age 86. However, her reported death date lacks independent confirmation, and her cause of death has not been reliably documented.
Conclusion
Mary Mercier was more than Gene Wilder’s first wife. From Roots and The Lady of the Camellias to her own Johnny No-Trump and supporting roles in Airplane!, her credits reveal an actress who also pursued original dramatic writing.
Although much of her private life remains undocumented, surviving theatrical records, film credits, and her historical interview establish an independent professional identity. Her career remains part of the wider history of American theater, television, and film.
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